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Nora Ismail / JOJAPS – JOURNAL ONLINE JARINGAN PENGAJIAN SENI BINA 01132555145

JOJAPS

eISSN 2504-8457

Journal Online Jaringan Pengajian Seni Bina (JOJAPS)

A Research of Comparative Nutrient Value in

Food Waste Composting (ECO-COMPOST)

a*
Nora Binti Ismail
a*
Siti Nur Yusra binti Yusof
POLYTECHNIC OF PORT DICKSON
(nora@polipd.edu.my)
(nuryusra@polipd.edu.my)

Abstract

Composting is a process where the organic materials are transformed into compost via a process of controlled biological
decomposition by microorganisms under the presence of oxygen. The constantly increasing population of the world and the constant
push for more profitability that has come from the industrialization of our food system has pushed farmers to produce more food per
acre of available land and to increase productivity. The shift to mass-produced synthetic fertilizers came at a high environmental
cost because the production of synthetic fertilizer uses non-renewable resources and causes air and water pollution. Study of the best
combination of food waste composting (eco-compost 16) suitable for plant growth. Composting parameter involved are temperature,
pH value, moisture content, ratio C/N. Nutrient Value investigated in this study is limited to carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium due to retrained of laboratory apparatus. Compilation of making compost, nutrient value and the growth parameter of
plant is done simultaneously with searching for suitable title for the study. Discussion of the results obtained will focus on the key
parameters that affect the composting process such as moisture content, pH, temperature, carbon content, nitrogen content, C: N, the
nutrients such as nitrate (N03-), phosphate (P04 3-) and potassium (K +). Comparison of the results of composting the best among
6 samples studied can be determined through the plots. The researcher realized the importance and beneficial of compost in
maintaining and sustainable of the environment for future generation.

© 2020 Published by JOJAPS Limited.

Key-word: - compost, fertilizer, nutrient

1. Introduction

Municipal solid waste in Malaysia contains high amount of organic matters, particularly food waste. The National Strategic
Plan (NSP) for Solid Waste Management estimates that about 45% of the municipal wastes are food waste, followed by other
components such as papers, plastics, metals, etc. This figure has been reported to reach even higher levels at nearly 70% when
the waste arrives at the disposal site due to the separation of other recyclables from the waste and the lack of food waste recovery
in Malaysia. Most food waste is disposed of at the disposal. (Nazeri, 2005)

Food waste can be converted into useful materials such as soil conditioner or fertilizer if it is source-sorted and herby,
avoiding contamination from other waste materials. However, except some food waste collected from eateries by farmers for
animal feed, source separation of food waste for recycling is not commonly practiced in Malaysia due to various constraints.

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